The Dean’s favourite verse
Cathedral Newsletter – 4 December 2025
Friends in Christ, my favourite verse in the Bible is Romans 5:8.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In v7 just prior, Paul says, “Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.”
When I was a kid I blew up a firecracker in my own face. Dumb! My head was scorched and my eyes were damaged. It would have been worse except for my thick glasses. In hospital I was told my grandma offered to donate her corneas if needed. She would lose her sight, so I could be able to see again. That’s what you do for family.
By contrast, my favourite verse shows the magnitude of God’s love.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Jesus didn’t die for friends. He didn’t die for good people, trying hard to be on God’s side… No. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Before we’d made any move to turn back to God or clean up our act, he loved us.
One of the Bible’s big summary words for the result is justification. You see it in v1 and v9: “since we have been justified…”
To be justified means to be declared ‘not guilty’. It’s what happens when the accused is declared innocent. In our case, God’s love means we are forgiven despite being sinners. Jesus’ blood covered for our sins.
And justification has benefits now. V1 says it means we have peace with God. He is not cranky with us for our past. No, v2: we have access into grace. We can stand without fear before God and enjoy his presence and pleasure.
And justification has benefits forever. This is the point of vv9-10. Twice over, it’s future tense: “we shall be saved”! It’s referring to the final day of judgment… When we all have to give God an account for our lives, every single sin. But if you’ve trusted Jesus and his blood, you have been justified by faith.
And your past justification means that when that when the heavenly court comes into its final session… Future tense, you will be saved. You will be pronounced “not guilty” for every past sin, and every future sin you are still to commit in this life. Disappointments in discipleship! Struggles with doubt! Jesus will step forward and say, “I died for this one.”
Romans 5:8 means there is no sin you can commit to make God stop loving you, and there’s no good deed you can do to make him love you anymore than he already did from the start, because he died for us at our worst.
Preach this gospel to yourself every day!
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney